Executive Director

We are seeking a nimble, operationally sound Executive Director (ED) to lead the Portland VA Research Foundation (PVARF). PVARF is the non-profit research and education foundation affiliated with the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS). Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the ED oversees all financial, administrative, and strategic operations. You will foster a collaborative culture while serving as a key liaison between PVARF, VA Portland researchers, and VA Portland's academic affiliate, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). PVARF is housed within VA Portland, and both are connected to OHSU via a fully-enclosed, climate-controlled skybridge.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Working closely with the VA Portland Chiefs of Research and Education, the ED supports PVARF and VA Portland investigators and clinicians engaging in the VA Research and Education missions while ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the Foundation
• Financial Oversight: Serves as steward of the organization's financial health, overseeing the management and handling of funds, day-to-day financial operations, internal controls, audit readiness, and accurate financial reporting. Ensures fiscal practices meet regulatory requirements and support the long-term sustainability of the Foundation.
• Grant & Contract Management: Oversees investigators' application for and the administration, compliance, and reporting of federal (NIH, DoD, VA), industry-sponsored, and private biomedical research grants
• Operational Excellence: Supervises HR, accounting, and payroll functions with a dedicated administrative team to maintain seamless support for researchers
• Relationship Management: Cultivates trusted partnerships with VA Portland leadership, investigators and their research teams, and external regulatory bodies.
• Board Governance: Partners closely with the Board of Directors to provide transparent financial reporting, support governance best practices, and drive strategic organizational decisions

Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years of senior leadership experience in research administration, healthcare management, or a mid-to-large scale nonprofit
• Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree (MBA, MPH, MPA, or equivalent) or Certified Research Administrator (CRA) designation highly preferred
• Expertise: Proven track record in federal grant management and compliance (OMB Uniform Guidance), nonprofit financial management including budget development, financial controls, and audit readiness, and long-term fiscal sustainability planning
• Skills: Exceptional interpersonal communication, negotiation abilities, and experience navigating matrixed institutional environments (e.g., federal agencies or academic medicine)
• Financial Leadership: Demonstrated ability to establish or strengthen financial infrastructure, internal controls, and reporting systems in a complex nonprofit or research environment